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Kawasaki’s 1st world #1 Dave Simmonds. Despite being a double UK champion, the ’69 125 winner was only (grudgingly) given a works twin by the penny-pinching firm after first agreeing to wield his own spanners – then passing a works mechanic’s course to prove he was up to the job!pic.twitter.com/xDo9vSwL0T

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Kawasaki’s 1st world #1 Dave Simmonds. Despite being a double UK champion, the ’69 125 winner was only (grudgingly) given a works twin by the penny-pinching firm after first agreeing to wield his own spanners – then passing a works mechanic’s course to prove he was up to the job!

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  1. YSK3 Sankito. A TZ350? Count the pipes. 15bhp up on the works twin, this Swiss-inspired, Dutch-built TZ-based triple helped Katayama to the ’77 title but had one pot too many for Yamaha in Japan – which first cold-shouldered then completely abandoned its unwanted Euro love child.pic.twitter.com/Ncvw742KoR
  2. What might’ve been eh? An in-demand Bazza tries a Trident for size while mulling over the offer of a Triumph works ride for ’72. In the end he said ‘no thanks’ (also turning down a Ducati V-twin, Derbi and Suzuki GB) in favour of a factory Yamaha. Made sense. Kinda shame tho’…pic.twitter.com/aohmHLqR83
  3. Ago making his Yamaha debut at Daytona in ’74 on the all-new TZ700. In a race cut to 170 miles by the oil crisis, the Italian would prove he was just as fast on a two-stroke as an MV by crossing the line first ahead of Kenny and Kawasaki’s Hurley Wilvert (Nope, me neither…).pic.twitter.com/En9m3EmEQ2
  4. A young Kork Ballington at Silverstone in the days when he was green – but his Kwacker wasn’t. The H2 Seeley he’s riding here in ’74 had only a crashed road bike motor – but his Superbike performances would lead ultimately to a works Kawasaki contract and four world titles.pic.twitter.com/p1RIPhlw0e
  5. Dick Mann on his ’70 Daytona-winning CB750 – the only works Honda to finish. Teammates Bill Smith, Tommy Robb and Ralph Bryans all went out with broken cam chains – Brexit perhaps coming as a relief given the titanium racer’s wild handling flat out on the banking…pic.twitter.com/mvxqbBcas6

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